No European price cut for Xbox 360

By Tom Bramwell Published 5 September, 2008

Despite US cuts earlier this week.

Microsoft has ruled out a price cut for the Xbox 360 in Europe in light of significant movement in the US, where the Arcade, Premium and Elite models are all reduced as of 5th September.

"Pricing is handled on a region-by-region basis," Microsoft UK said in a statement. "We do not have a price drop in this region to announce." The last European cut took place in March.

As of today, Xbox 360 Arcade costs GBP 149.99 in the UK compared to USD 199.99, while the 60GB Premium unit is GBP 189.99 compared to USD 299.99 and the 120GB Xbox 360 Elite retails for GBP 249.99 compared to USD 399.99. Given the exchange rate, that's not actually terrible.

Microsoft boss Don Mattrick also reiterated this week that he expects to sell more consoles than Sony in this generation. Well, not him personally. "I'm not at a point where I can say we're going to beat Nintendo," he also said.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (50) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • wadgem #1 3 years ago

    That doesn't mean anything. If they're going to cut the price over here, they're not going to announce it in advance.

  • Dark_Era #2 3 years ago

    well if its true, then as i expected,as always the rest of the world thinks The Pound grows on trees in the UK

  • Julie1364 #3 3 years ago

    Now there’s a surprise – no price drop for Europe!!

  • Gnort #4 3 years ago

    It's a pity the UK retail network isn't as leaky as it is in the US. Microsoft are never going to announce a price cut in advance, it would kill sales until the cut came in.

    I'm not sure there will be a price cut in Europe, MS probably feel they're already priced right relative to their competitors. Although the Elite is stupidly overpriced compared to the new 60GB Pro, perhaps they should consider dropping that.

  • SilentLoner #5 3 years ago

    Might pick one up now then

  • miiiguel #6 3 years ago

    Elite must be the worst deal of the 3 SKU's, but maybe MS knows that some ppl just have to have it.

    /shame/

  • rashes #7 3 years ago

    Isn't Europe supposed to be the major 'battleground' ?
    MS are already dominant in the US.

  • Xerx3s #8 3 years ago

    These prices are a farce though. The 60gb costs 299$ in the us but here it would cost over 370$. A difference of 10 or 20 euro per machine could be explained, this is just $=€ ripoff europe again.

  • DFawkes #9 3 years ago

    I've been gaming long enough to know all companies despise Europe, but I'm still not entirely sure why.

  • asphaltcowboy #10 3 years ago

    I thought Europe already had a price drop, why would anyone be expecting another so soon?

  • el_pollo_diablo #11 3 years ago

    SONY SCREWS EUROPE AGAIN!

  • DrDamn #12 3 years ago

    @Xerx3s
    As mentioned in the article the current price comparisons aren't terrible based on current exchange rates - at least for the UK.

    Examples.
    Elite : $399 = £227 = £266 including VAT. Current UK price £250 - CHEAPER than the US.
    Premium: $299 = £170 = £200 including VAT. Current UK price £189 - CHEAPER than the US.


  • lambtron #13 3 years ago

    Wait, what?

    190 quid is roughly $335. The US prices don't include sales tax - once you add those on it's practically identical.

  • dr_faulk #14 3 years ago

    Beware the magic conversion rates and seconday school maths quizzes.

  • kangarootoo #15 3 years ago

    Err, something about Europe and "them" hating us... and probably something about bending over, with a dash of "forcing us to buy" thrown in for good measure.

  • Dark_Era #16 3 years ago

    el_pollo_diablo
    05-Sep-08 10:04:40

    "SONY SCREWS EUROPE AGAIN!"

    dang whats this gotta do with sony, lol, looks like sonys now gets charged and declared guilty even beforethe crime is commited, lol
    Edited by 1 at 05/09/08 @ 10:21

  • Xerx3s #17 3 years ago

    "They have to also add the Europe tax. "

    Yes because other regions of the world are tax free.

  • Colin8703 #18 3 years ago

    I have no problem with this at all. The prices are fare and if anything, it's brough the US into line with Europe price wise.

    People would grumble even if they sold the machine for £10. Why, because it's the internet.

    You can always get deals with games anyway and I would not be surprised if a GOW2 bundle appeared in time for christmas.



  • Steroyd #19 3 years ago

    dang whats this gotta do with sony, lol, looks like sonys now gets charged and declared guilty even beforethe crime is commited, lol

    It's sarcasm, people are quick to declare how Sony loves butt humping Europeans, and how MS is the one who treats Europe with the most respect, or kindness or something like that.

    Nintendo... roflmaobbqomfglollerskates

  • Colin8703 #20 3 years ago

    Does anyone remember spending £189 on a Sega Megadrive when it first came out or £300 on PS1? Both released a year after the Japanese had them. I do.

    Things are much better these day guys and gals.

  • johnboy_johsnon #21 3 years ago

    As already stated Europe only had a price drop recently. The US had no price drop at that time. I wouldn't expect to see another price drop over this side for some time yet. It's more likley that a bundle or two will come out before Christmas.

  • dr_faulk #22 3 years ago

    I remember people spending IR £400 on:

    - Sega Saturn

    - PlayStation 2

    Those were the recockulous days.

  • Widge #23 3 years ago

    oh yeah, the poor with without its gfx lol etc

  • miiiguel #24 3 years ago

    It's more expensive to sell a consumer electronics item in Europe than in the US, not only because of taxes but also because they have to give a 2 year warranty. US has 15 days, as far as I know.

    We're also forgetting that 10 years ago when consoles were ridiculous (were they?) overpriced, we didn't have those millions of children in Asia assembling them for us, earning 5 dolars a month.
    Edited by 1 at 05/09/08 @ 10:59

  • anomagnus #25 3 years ago

    this is Microsoft punishing europe over liking sony so much

    well down you ps3lol sony bots, WELL DONE!!!!!

  • DrDamn #26 3 years ago

    @Xerx3s
    "Yes because other regions of the world are tax free."

    The point being that those US prices are tax free. In the US tax on goods is set at a State level, so any US prices you here about are before sales tax.


  • dr_faulk #27 3 years ago

    @ farticusmaximus

    lol, no. Who?

    On Topic

    Yeah, there are a fair few things to consider with the conversion: lack of US sales tax is another; UK sales tax being twice as much. The fact that things are generally a bit cheaper there only contributes to about 1/3 of the whole argument.

    And if you want a bitch about the taxes, just try getting decent free health care out of the Yanks first.
    Edited by 1 at 05/09/08 @ 11:06

  • DB2k #28 3 years ago

    $200 or £150 - on the face not a good deal.. not as bad as you might think. $200 plus VAT and Customs which I assume MS have to pay on these consoles bringing them in to the UK, makes the price £135 vs £150. So 15 quid.. I am happy with my 15 quid so it means I don't have to live in the states.

  • hiddenranbir #29 3 years ago

    Thanks for helping us in recession!

  • DrDamn #30 3 years ago

    @dr_faulk
    "whole argument"

    What is the argument though? Arcade is a bit cheaper in the US and the Premium and Elite are both cheaper here in the UK. These differences are more related to getting the price below key purchasing points (less than $200, less than £150 etc)
    Edited by 1 at 05/09/08 @ 11:15

  • dr_faulk #31 3 years ago

    Actually, remember articles about Sony officially wanting the PS3 to be labelled as a PC, or super computer, so that it could dodge taxes incurred specifically on consoles? Maybe UK / Europe has a higher 'console' tax.

    It all seems a bit 'not-wearing-puffy-pants' to me.

  • captainrentboy #32 3 years ago

    I'm not sure what some of you are complaining about, as has been explained already, we're not exactly being ripped off in the UK or anything. (Unless of course you compare the 360's UK price to the Japanese one, they have to pay about a fiver don't they?)
    Infact, we only had a price drop on the European machines about 6 weeks ago, stop facking moaning!
    If I didn't already have a 360, I'd think paying £200 for a 60Gig 360 with 2 decent games is a freakin' good deal.

  • ruttyboy #33 3 years ago

    I can't believe someone used the word 'dang' 0_o

    I thought that only happened in the Duke of Hazzard.

  • miiiguel #34 3 years ago

    A UEFA advertising deal (well..., Champions League to be more precise, as MS advertises in Euro-Cups and UEFA cups), that is just what I needed to play me games... bollocks! :/

  • oceanmotion #35 3 years ago

    Arcade is £149.99
    Pro is £199.99
    Elite is £259.99

    Wii is £179.99
    PS3 is £299.99

    Common sense people. They don't need to price drop. Looks at the prices right now.

    Also when converting to dollars take 17.5% VAT off the price to get the proper conversion.

    Arcade £126 = $218
    Pro £165 = $290
    Elite £215 = $378

    Wii £149 = $262
    PS3 £248 = $436

    Actually pretty close wouldn't you say.

  • BobsUncle #36 3 years ago

    @Farticus

    And Justice for all was shite. Worst sounding production ever. It does have some decent songs but the piss poor sound quality renders it unlistenable for me.

  • hoobarr #37 3 years ago

    Does anyone know if the 2 yr warranty applies to the UK as well. I know that sounds a silly question, but I sent my box off a while back, under warranty, because of disc read error. By the time I got it back the 1yr had run out but they'd put an extra 3 months on because theyd fixed it. I got it back and I dont think theyd even looked at the dvd drive because theyd changed the motherboard , F.Wits.
    It was ok in the first month, then the second one I got a couple of errors again but put this down to the disc as it was a second hand one off ebay, although it wasnt that bad. After the third month it started playing up again so I called to try and get them to sort it out, only 2 weeks outside of the extention. The yankee twat on the other end of the phone wouldnt accept that the fault was theirs as, he said, 3 months is long enough to notice a fault and I should have contacted them sooner. I tried telling him that the in europe its 2yr for warranty by law, but he wouldnt accept it.
    I tried looking for the actual european directive number or something that I could go back to him with but couldnt find anything so gave up.
    Sorry for the long post, probably not the right thread but I saw someone above mention it. Other threads in the forum talk about it being 1 or 3 depending on RROD.
    Edited by 2 at 05/09/08 @ 12:53

  • CreepinJesus #38 3 years ago

    @ DrDamn

    At least someone pointed out the taxing... The US prices are usually exlcuding tax, because it's different in every state. DrDamn put on the 17.5% UK VAT, and bam - more expensive. It's 20% in France, so count yourselves lucky :p

    /Buys new box in 7.6% Switzerland...

  • Madafunkola #39 3 years ago

    I went off Metallica after "the black album", but that's not going to stop me going to see them at the o2 in a little over a week! Wooo!

  • jamie_fear #40 3 years ago

    I think everyone I know went off Metallica after the Black Album. Load and Reload were truly awful as well.

  • JonFE #41 3 years ago

    farticus well done; mission accomplished :)

  • johnnybrn #42 3 years ago

    Bass, we dont need no stiiinking bass!

    All the better to let Lars ace drumming come through ;)

    For great examples see St. Anger and Justice..

  • JonFE #43 3 years ago

    @farticus,

    Don't worry about it; after all Sept 12th is coming fast and it's only natural for fans to talk about the up-coming album ;)

  • Totoriko #44 3 years ago

    $199 for the Premium with 2 games in North America at the moment. I think some shops are confused between Pro/Premium and Arcade versions

    [link url=http://www.futu reshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=L&langid=EN&sku_id=06 65000FS10098283&catid=
    ]http://ww w.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddet...[/link]
    Edited by 1 at 05/09/08 @ 15:22

  • holsty101 #45 3 years ago

    Pfft ... forget Metallica, you need to check out Beatallica :o

    http://ww w.youtube.com/watch?v=VK8ombQQd...

  • captainrentboy #46 3 years ago

    I'll have you buggers know there's plenty of Bass on Death Magnetic, fast forward to the 50 second mark on 'Suicide And Redemption' and you'll definitly hear a good 3 seconds worth :)
    I think the album's pretty cool actually, it shits all over St Anger, not that that's remotely difficult.
    My fave song, even though literally everyone I've talked to would disagree, is Cyanide.

  • xmifi #47 3 years ago

    Bend over my fellow Europeans. We just be f..... again.

  • BonzoBanana #48 3 years ago

    Can't believe people are complaining about the european price of the 360. Its a great price in comparision. In the past we have been royally screwed upto as much as 2x even allowing for tax. Hats off to Microsoft for being fair. I say that as someone who gets annoyed about my unstable 360 and rarely uses it. The console may be built like crap but at least the pricing is fair.

    If you want to complain about pricing what about the wii. A seriously cheap console to make that could sell profitably for about £80 but sells for £100 above that!

  • bonker #49 3 years ago

    "well if its true, then as i expected,as always the rest of the world thinks The Pound grows on trees in the UK "

    That's cos UK people spend it like it grows on trees.

    The UK will never fully recover from the up-coming recession ...

  • Prodigy_BE #50 3 years ago

    Europe is lost anyway.
    So they are channeling all cash to their last castle: the USA (which was getting beat by PS3 in the last few months)
    That really can't happen, or MS will move to 3rd place.

    We'll see if this move can give them back their lead over PS3 in the US.
    I hope for them it does, because if it doesn't then there is no wa y back, and Sony can punch them hard by reducing its price.